Rockford council raises 2 contracts to bolster ash tree removal

ROCKFORD — Aldermen nearly doubled the city’s contract with Flying W Tree Service and tripled the contract with Tree Care Enterprises tonight to pay for increased efforts and demand in tree removals.

Corina Curry

ROCKFORD — Aldermen nearly doubled the city’s contract with Flying W Tree Service and tripled the contract with Tree Care Enterprises tonight to pay for increased efforts and demand in tree removals.

The vote was 11-1. Ald. Carl Wasco, D-4, voted against the increases. Ald. Frank Beach, R-10, and John Beck, R-12, were absent.

City leaders chalked up the need for more tree removal money to the city’s aggressive five-to-seven-year ash tree removal and treatment plan in response to the deadly emerald ash borer, which is slowly spreading across the nation and killing millions of ash trees.

The Flying W contract was bumped up from $225,400 to $450,000. Tree Care’s contract is going from $20,000 to $60,000.

When asked why the contracts were being adjusted, Public Works Director Tim Hanson said the department has hit its budget limit with both companies but wishes to complete much more tree removal work before the year is done.

Hanson said Flying W and Tree Care help the city with ash tree removal and storm cleanup. A recent storm resulted in about 100 requests for tree and limb removal, he said.

“We’ve been neglecting our canopy over the last several years, so we have a lot of work that has to happen out there,” Hanson explained. “This is a benchmark year for us. We weren’t really sure where the budget would end up, and we still have a lot to do.”

Mayor Larry Morrissey said the need to spend more money on tree care and removal is just part of the city’s new normal as it addresses the invasive emerald ash beetle, which already is killing area ash trees.

“The reality is we have to deal with a number of storms and the need to take down the ash trees,” Morrissey said. “We don’t have a choice. We either spend now or spend more later on with more hazards in our community with trees falling — not when we take them down but falling on their own as a result of the damage.”

The city estimates that it has about 8,000 ash trees on city property. It plans to remove most of them and treat about 1,000.

The city’s forestry expenses come from the sanitation fund. Finance Director Chris Black said the fund was performing well and could absorb the additional expenses.

Also tonight:
Alderman voted 12-0 to approve the city’s participation in a nearly $70 million regional fiber-optic network project called the Illinois Fiber Resources Group, or iFiber for short.

The city plans to support the network by allowing access to the city’s existing fiber-optic line, an asset worth more than $400,000, about $200,000 of which is being considered an in-kind match.

Contribution and service agreements define what the city will give and get from the network.

When complete, nearly 900 miles of fiber-optic cable will connect nine northern Illinois counties and 533 public institutions from libraries and schools to police and fire stations.

Funds to build the network came from the federal government. The purpose of the system is to increase broadband technology and high-speed Internet connectivity in the region.

After the program’s initial grant period, the network could grow to include private businesses and residences, said Rockford Information Technology Director Glen Trommels.

“This is going to be a tremendous breakthrough in terms of access to broadband,” Morrissey said. “It’s a major, major investment.”

Aldermen also voted 11-1 to approve an award to replace the roof at Fire Station 11, 2117 Calgary Court. The new roof will cost $63,900.

Also voted 10-2 to approve the appointment of Ron Clewer to the Community Action Advisory Board. Clewer, acting director of the Rockford Housing Authority, will serve a term that expires in February 2014.